VIDEO: Film reveals deadly dangers of swimming in reservoirs

A film that exposes the life threatening risks of swimming in reservoirs has been released by Yorkshire Water and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS).

The Cold Water Kills film aims to highlight that even a short swim could end in tragic consequences.

The film is aimed at young people who are most likely to be tempted to swim in reservoirs during the school summer holidays.

It was filmed at Ogden reservoir in Halifax and features a hard hitting recreation of a reservoir emergency rescue that ends in tragedy.

In the last five years, Yorkshire and Humberside’s four Fire & Rescue Services (WYFRS) have been called out to around 346 water rescue incidents - 20 of which resulted in deaths with nine occurring in West Yorkshire. The most recent reservoir fatality was at a reservoir in South Yorkshire last summer where a police dive team found the body of a 38 year-old man.

Alastair Harvey, Recreation Advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “Reservoirs may look tempting to take a swim in but they can be killers and our dramatic film will hopefully raise awareness of these risks amongst young people.

WYFRS station manager, Ian Thompson, said: “As the school summer holidays start it is vital that youngsters take our safety messages on board when they are out and about.”